The enlightened healthy living.

9 Best Reasons Why Japanese Diet Healthy

Longevity is a boon that every person on this earth would want to get somehow or the other, however, what is unknown to most of the people be that longevity entirely depends on one’s lifestyle and the diet they take!

And while we talk about longevity, there are a few countries that have surely won the race. There are certain places in the world where life expectancy is much more than the world average of 71 years. It is as high as in 81-90 years.

One of those places is Okinawa in Japan, which is also referred to as the ‘Land of Immortals’ as the average life expectancy here is 81.2 years. Japanese are known to have the highest life expectancy in the world. From the diet they take to even the way they cook their food, the Japanese have their secrets of living longer.

The major secret is their diet as they consume lots of fruits and vegetables, and their menu is balanced and has a freshness to it. We have unearthed a few secrets from their lifestyle that you can adopt, and who knows, you might live longer too!

Reasons Why Japanese diet healthy

1. Japanese food is not just eating Sushi.

Ask foreigners what do they think about Japanese foods, probably their answers would be Sushi. Japanese people are much focused on what they eat with well-balanced nutrients with the colors of the rainbow, and it’s a common notion amongst others that they only enjoy eating SUSHI, which is a dish prepared with rice and is commonly paired with seafood.

However, the Japanese enjoy eating seasonal vegetables and fruit. Their traditional meal includes grilled meat, soups, and tea. For them, seasonal fruit and fishes are most important, and they are least interested in dining out. Japanese certainly don’t enjoy junk and high-calorie food. Another essential part of their daily routine is eating nutrient-rich seaweeds!

2. A different method of cooking.

To bring out the best in all their dishes, Japanese cook their food using minimal oil, and different methods like slow-cooking, broiling, steaming, stewing, fermenting, and even stir-frying are involved. The reason for choosing such methods is to retain the nutritional value of the ingredient they are using for the dish. Soups are given utmost importance in Japanese cuisine along with veggies and rice.

3. Eating of different foods in a small portion

People eat to fill their stomachs, and they don’t believe in greed. A Japanese meal is not just about eating but to socialize and communicate. While they eat their nourishment slowly, the Japanese believe in portion control. They eat their food in smaller plates to feel satiated.

4. Drinking tea in the morning, noon, and night.

As compared to the rest of the world, the Japanese enjoy drinking tea. The drinking culture of Japan is quite,team-friendly, and their MATCHA TEA is widespread across the country. Match has high nutritional properties and made using specially grown and processed green leaves. It is highly rich in anti-oxidants.

5. Eating seasonal fruits as desserts

Desserts can make anyone goes weak in the knees, and the Japanese desserts like Anmitsu, WAGASHI, and KOHI ZERI are something that you cannot say NO to! However, the Japanese themselves are less dessert-friendly and are more inclined towards savory dishes. Naturally, it makes them healthier.

6. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

For Japanese, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. They believe in the concept of having a good breakfast, and OKAYU (rice porridge) and GOHAN (steamed rice), along with broiled fish, is something that they love to binge on! Carbohydrates are essential to start the day, and they get full nutrition from such dishes.

7. Do they diet?

Ask a Japanese woman or a man; if they diet to get in shape and have a fitter body, that’s precisely the question you will be faced! The traditional Japanese diet that consists of rice, fish, and pickled vegetables allows you to feel full for long without feeling bloated. They have an active daily routine, where they walk and exercise more often! So, say NO to dieting and go the traditional Japanese way to lose a few kilos.

8. Rice is the main staple.

As bread is made using refined or all-purpose flour, which can cause indigestion in your body, the Japanese prefer rice over them. Steamed rice is a staple for them, which they enjoy along with lots of sautéed or stir-fried vegetables.

9. Obsession of cleanliness.

The people living in Japan are obsessed with cleanliness. For them, cleanliness is as important as the living, and they are disciplined for the same. Even their children learn to clean their surroundings in their schools, to be taught at a later age!

My name is Lynn; I am a nutritionist, a devoted housewife, and a mother of two smart and amiable daughters.Welcome to my website, “My healthy Japanese diet.” Yes, My love is healthy Japanese diet, and the enlightened healthy living in Japan.

14 thoughts on “9 Best Reasons Why Japanese Diet Healthy”

The concept of eating at home to be sociable is a great place to start for most westerners who want to improve their health.
Cooking at home gives us control over the ingredients, oils used, and cooking methods, so that we can always be assured of eating healthy and therefore giving our bodies a balanced healthy diet. Eating out gives us less control over the quality of foods and many people when dining out always seem to overeat.
I like the idea of eating foods from all the colours of the rainbow and eating what fruits and vegetables are in season. Great idea!
It seems that the average westerner can learn a lot from the Japanese when it comes to food preparation and eating habits.
Many thanks for sharing 🙂

Yes, you are right that cooking at home helps us to control the ingredients used so as well with our taste.
I consider preparing foods with different colors to enhance the appetite.
Yes, I agree with you that when it comes to food preparation and eating habits, the Japanese are right on these things.

Reading this post really brings back happy memories of my trip to Okinawa more than a year ago. We loved the cuisine there, it’s really healthy and flavorful, with miso soup and all. One of their most well-known dishes is bittergourd stir-fried with egg. I can never get enough of that!

Thank you for the reminder to eat healthy. I should start drinking the matcha in my pantry, instead of the usual unhealthy 3-in-1 coffee.

Your trip to Okinawa seems so exciting and looks you enjoyed it with happy memories.
Yes, Okinawa people enjoy life to the fullest, they live with nature, and so as well the weather there is just right. It’s not too hot or too cold.
I love Okinawa too; the people are friendly and kind.

I enjoyed reading the post. It was very informative and you covered all the reasons why the Japanese diet is the best in a concise way. I love the picture showing the wide variety of meals and food items. If you were to add a Youtube video to this post, it would be even nicer.

I’m glad to know that you enjoyed reading the post. I hope I was able to provide a bit of information about the Japanese diet that you can incorporate in your meal.
I’m planning to add a video as per the request.

Thank you for a great article and for bringing to my attention this different way of eating. It really made me think of how and what I am eating. Fried and greasy foods have definitely contributed to my losing slowly battle over the years. Especially since I turned 50 – now as I approach my seventh decade I need to get off of this losing cycle. The way the Japanese eat seems like a very reasonable and attainable way of life. I am a tea drinker – is there any difference in what is commonly called green tea and Matcha Tea? Do you have a source you could recommend?

Thank you, too, for stopping by and with kind comments.
We must be aware of our diet as we grow older, decline the fatty foods, and process foods and concentrate on foods in nature such as vegetables and fruits.
It is the secret of long live and healthy Japanese people.
Drinking tea is best after every meal for digestion.

I love this post! Health and fitness is a lifestyle and you encapsulate that in this post. The idea of small portions, seasonal eating and an active lifestyle are so key to maintaining health and longevity. Unlike the American diet that is rife with processed foods, the Japanese diet focuses on whole food. This is the philosophy that I preach to my personal training clients. Great to hear of your journey!

Yes, that’s true, Stacy, Japanese enlightened dieting and comes along with health and fitness.

In Japan, the meals that served are just enough for everyone, no excess but with varieties of foods.
Exactly you are right that the Japanese diet almost consists of whole foods so as well as seasonal vegetables and fruits.